Adjustable top clean-outs



Jan. 9,'1968 E. L. MORRIS ETAL 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-CUTS 'SQ/Ma? www Y @Trae/VE V52 Jan. 9, 1968 E L,MoRRls ET AL 3,362,425

ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-oms Filed May 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QQL L.Maze/s Reefer C. Sozsam/ A5 7 ORA/EVS.

United States Patent 3,362,425 ADJUSTABLE TOP CLEAN-DUTS Earl L. Morris,Whittier, Calif., and Robert C. Salsbury, Paramus, NJ., assignors to JayR. Smith Mfg. Co., New Market, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey FiledMay 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,655 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-362) This inventionrelates to drain clean-outs capable of being adjusted as to the level oftheir tops, the drain clean-outs being adapted for installation inconc-rete slab floors. The invention particularly relates to anadjustable level waste drain clean-out which is protected from pluggingby wet concrete during the pouring of the floor and can be carefullyaligned so that all of the clean-outs of a series occupy exactly thesame level; moreover, the invention provides means whereby the variousclean-outs may be raised at a subsequent time in the event the level ofthe floor is to be increased, as for example when at a subsequent dateit is desired to apply a tile floor upon the surface of the pre-castconcrete slab floor.

Every building generally includes a plumbing system and all waste anddrain pipe need be installed before a concrete floor is poured. Numerousclean-out plugs must be provided in any large Ibuilding and, in manyinstitutional buildings, a large number of oor outlets need be provided.It is necessary that all of the clean-out openings, drain openings, etc.be provided with covers, plugs, or other means for preventing dirt,concrete and the like from accidentally entering the pipes and lpluggingthem. Moreover, it is necessary that all iioor outlets to a waste pipesystem be at the level of the finished floor, since it is both expensiveand sometimes impossible to make a final adjustment which will place thedrain outlet or cleanont at the finished floor level, after the concretefloor has been cast and has set.

The present invention permits clean-out covers to be installed at aprecise desired level, usually co-planar with a desired iioor level. Theinvention provides a plug for the waste pipe as well as a cover which isadjustable to a desired level whereby all clean-out or drain openings ina concrete floor may be installed at the uniform, cornmon floor planebefore the concrete is poured or placed, the construction of the devicehereinafter described being such that cement or grout will not enter thewaste pipes nor clog or impair the adjustability of the clean-out.

Furthermore, in the event, at a time subsequent to the completion of acement floor slab (containing cleanouts of this invention), it isdesired to raise the floor or apply a surfacing of tile or the like, theclean-out covers and rim rings can be easily adjusted to a new levelwithout chipping or damaging the fioor. It is to be understood that thepresent invention is not only designed for the use of cleanouts whichare to be employed or opened only in an emergency or clogging of a wastesystem, but may be also employed to properly position drain openings inthe floor, as for example where an institutional building contains anumber of adjacent shower rooms or the like.

Again, the present invention permits the removal of the cover withoutthe use -of special tools, the plug being also readily removable afterthe cover is lifted. The construction hereinafter described in detailalso permits the rim rings and/ or frames to be raised or removed eventhough they have become bonded to the surrounding concrete. Theconstruction of this invention permits the cover plate to be changed inits elevation with respect to the plug and also with respect to the pipefitting; moreover,

3,362,425 Patented Jan. 9, 1968 ICC the -rirn ring of the device mayalso be changed in its elevation with respect to the plug and/ or withrespect to the fitting. As a result, a very flexi-ble construction andarrangement is provided permitting the plumber to readily adjust thelevels of the covers both before the concrete floor slab is poured andat a subsequent date.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to disclose andprovide an improved construction for Waste drain clean-outs and otheropenings adapted for installation in concrete slab floors.

Another Objectis to disclose and provide Waste drain clean-outs andcovers which can be adjusted to any desired level, both before and aftertheir installation in a floor.

Another object is to disclose and provide an improved and simpleconstruction for a waste drain clean-out including built in means forlifting the covers whenever desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of certain exemplary forms, referencebeing had to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. l is an axial longitudinal section of an adjustable clean-out coverassembly in position in a concrete floor;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the assembly shown in FIG. l, part of the coverbeing broken away;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the elements employed in the assembly ofFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an axial section illustrating the manner of lifting the cover;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the position of the partsduring raising or liberating of the -rim ring when it is desired toplace the cover at a higher elevation than that of the original floor;

FIG. 6 Iillustrates an assembly with the cover in an adjusted, raisedposition;

FIG. 7 is a partial axial section of a modified form of adjustableclean-out cover.

In order to facilitate the application of the clean-out openings andcovers of the present invention, a fitting generally indicated as 1 isemployed, this tting being preferably provided with a lower end 2provided with a v series of circumferential score lines or indentationssuch as 3, 3', and the like whereby the fitting can be broken off andreadily adjusted as to length desired to fit into either the spigot orthe bell end of a waste pipe indicated in dash lines. The fitting isalso provided with an upper end indicated at 4 terminating in aninternally threaded end porti-on 5 capable of threadedly receiving andengaging the circumferential flange portion of a plug 7. The transversepartition 8 of the plug 7 is provided with a recess 9 (best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3) whereby the rotation of the plug into threaded engagementwith the fitting may be facilitated. The preferred plug is also providedWith a boss 10 having an internally threaded recess indicated at 11.

A headed bolt 12 having the head 13 is in threaded engagement with theinternal threads 11 of the boss. The head 13 of the bolt 12 is providedwith an axial recess 14 which is of larger diameter than the internallythreaded downwardly extending blind bore 15. The shank 17 of a `lockingscrew 16 is in threaded engagement with the internally threaded blindbore 15; a nut 18 carried by such shank is retained within the enlargedaxial recess 14 of the bolt.

A cylindrical frame member 20 surrounds the head of fitting 1; the frame20 carries an inwardly extending flange 21 which normally rests upon theend of the fitting 1 as shown in FIG. l. For resting upon the ange ofthe frame is the liange 31 of a rim ring 30, the wall of the rim ringcoacting with the upper surface of ange 31 to form a shoulder or recessadapted to receive the circumferential marginal portion of the coverplate 40.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the flange 21 of frame 2i) is provided withthree or four internally threaded bores 24, 24', 24"; similarly, theange of the rim ring 30 is provided with internally threaded bores 34,34 and 34"; the cover 40 is also provided lwith threaded bores 44, 44and 44". These bore holes Z4, 34 and 44 are in alignment so that thecover may be firmly attached to the rim ring and the frame by suitablelocking screws 54, 54', etc.

It will be noted that the cover 40 is provided with an axial port 41having sides which provide a seat for the head of the locking screw 16.Before the cover is applied, the locking screw 16 is passed through theport and the nut 18 is applied to the shank 17 so that when the cover isapplied and is seated on the head 13 of bolt 12, the nut 18 is receivedwithin the recess 14 and the locking screw may be threaded into theblind bore 15.

Moreover, means may be provided for translating rotation of the coverinto rotation of the bolt 12 so as to vary the elevation of the coverwith respect to the bolt and plug. Such means may comprise thedownwardly extending boss 42 carried by the cover 40, said boss beingprovided with a socket 43 adapted to receive the head 13 of the bolt 12.

It is also to be noted that in order to properly position the rim ring30 upon the frame 20, the ange of the rim ring 30 is provided with adownwardly extending tab 35 which fits into a notch 25 in the iiange ofthe frame 20. Such interengagement insures the proper alignment of thevarious internally threaded bore holes 24, 34 and 44.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the locking screw 16 performs a dual functionin that it also acts as a handle by means of which the entire cover 40may be rea-dily removed. After the connecting screws 54 are removed, thelocking screw 16 may be unthreaded from the blind bore 15 and it willproject above the level of the cover 40. When in this position, it canbe readily grasped and axial upward movement will be translated throughthe nut 18 to the cover 40 thereby permitting the entire cover to bereadily raised. This raising position is illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be noted that as shown in FIG. l the entire upper end of thefitting and waste pipe is protected against clogging by wet plasticconcrete. The frame and rim ring collaborates with the cover to keep theplug completely enclosed and no cement or cement slurry can plug thedrain pipe nor prevent subsequent ready removal of the plug from itsfitting.

As previously indicated, there are times when after a concrete oor hasbeen laid and the rim rings and covers and drain outlets are all inposition, the architect or subsequent owner of the building desires toraise the level of the lioor as, for example, to the level indicated indash lines in FIG. 5. At such time it is only necessary to remove thecover plate in the manner shown in FIG. 4, and utilize an auxiliary setof internally threaded bore holes 35', 35 and 36' formed in the rim ring30. The rim ring is of course bonded to the adjacent concrete but, byplacing the screws 54 into threaded openings 35', 35, etc. and screwingdown upon the unbored portions of the flange 21 of frame 2l) (asillustrated in FIG. 5), the entire rim ring 30 may be readily raised toa desired position or level coplanar with the level of the new orincreased elevation of the lioor. Circular shim rings 56 may then beinserted beneath the flange 31 and above the flange 21 (as shown in FIG.6) and the cover 40 again screwed into place. In FIG. 6, the new or tilecovering or the like is indicated at 58.

A simplified modification of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 7. It also employs a pipe fitting 1, a

4 frame 20, a rim ring 30 and a cover 40 but the plug 7 is provided withan integral downwardly extending boss 10 and an upwardly extendingintegral polygonal head 19. This head 19 is received by a socket formedin the downwardly extending boss 42 of the cover 40 and supports thecover. The locking screw 16 extends downwardly into an internallythreaded bore formed in the boss 10. Although rotation of the cover 40will be translated into rotation of the plug 4 and thereby vary theelevation of the cover with respect to the pipe fitting 1, the lockingscrew in this embodiment does not act as a handle whereby the entirecover may be lifted by the locking screw as in the prior modification.

From the description given hereinabove it will be evident that thepresent device provides a simple, easily adjustable means for placing arim ring and its cover on a waste outlet or clean-out at any desiredelevation, either during initial construction or at a subsequent time.Means have been provided for translating rotation of a cover intorotation of a bolt so as to vary the elevation yof the cover withrespect to a plug; means have been provided for translating rotation ofthe cover into a rotation of the plug itself so as to vary the elevationof the cover. Means have been provided whereby a rim ring may be readilyliberated from its bond with adjacent concrete so as to raise it to adesired elevation. All changes and modifications coming within the scopeof the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim:

1. An adjustable level waste clean-out and drain cap adapted forinstallation in concrete slab iioors including: a plug for closing theopen end of a stationary waste pipe tting, said plug having threadedmeans connecting the plug to a fitting and for varying the elevation ofthe plug with respect to the end of the fitting;

a cylindrical frame encircling the plug and adapted to be positioned ina concrete fioor slab to protect said plug and fitting, said framehaving an inwardly extending top ange extending over said tting;

a cover plate removably carried by the plug;

means for varying the elevation of the cover plate with respect to saidplug;

a rim ring having an internal lower flange forming a shoulder adapted toreceive and support the cover plate;

aligned means for removably connecting the cover plate to the rim ringand frame;

and selectively operable threaded means in said rim ring for raisingsaid ring with respect to said frame flange,

whereby said cover plate and rim ring may be positioned at any desiredfloor elevation `with respect to the open end of a stationary waste pipeat a lower elevation.

2. An adjustable waste clean-out and drain cap as stated in claim 1wherein said plug includes an internally threaded boss, an upwardlyextending headed bolt in engagement with said internally threaded boss,the head of said bolt supporting said cover, and means for translatingrotation of said cover into rotation of said bolt to vary the elevationof the cover with respect to said plug.

3. An adjustable waste clean-out and drain cap as stated in claim 1including: means for releasably connecting the cover to said plug andfor lifting the cover comprising: an internally threaded boss in saidplug; an upwardly extending headed bolt in engagement with saidinternally threaded boss, said bolt having an axial, enlarged recessopening in the head of said bolt and a lower internally threaded blindbore; a headed cover locking screw provided with a shank extendingthrough the cover plate into engagement with the threaded blind bore ofsaid bolt, and a nut within the recess, whereby in one axial positionsaid locking screw locks the cover plate to said bolt and plug and inanother position disengages from the bolt and extends above the coverplate, further upward motion of 1,826,555 10/ 1931 Lonskey 210-163 thelocking screw being translated by the nut into lifting 2,299,705 10/1942 Svirsky 210-165 XR force applied t0 the Cover- 2,930,295 3/1960Haie 9434 References Cited 3,173,443 3/1965 Saville 137-362 5 3,263,5798/1966 Dorris 94-34 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,180 8/ 1913 Reed 94-34HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner.

1,639,495 8/1927 Frame 94-34

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LEVEL WASTE CLEAN-OUT AND DRAIN CAP ADAPTED FORINSTALLATION IN CONCRETE SLAB FLOORS INCLUDING: A PLUG FOR CLOSING THEOPEN END OF A STATIONARY WASTE PIPE FITTING, SAID PLUG HAVING THREADEDMEANS CONNECTING THE PLUG TO A FITTING AND FOR VARYING THE ELEVATION OFTHE PLUG WITH RESPECT TO THE END OF THE FITTING; A CYLINDRICAL FRAMEENCIRCULING THE PLUG AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN A CONCRETE FLOORSLAB TO PROTECT SAID PLUG AND FITTING, SAID FRAME HAVING AN INWARDLYEXTENDING TOP FLANGE EXTENDING OVER SAID FITTING; A COVER PLATEREMOVABLY CARRIED BY THE PLUG; MEANS FOR VARYING THE ELEVATION OF THECOVER PLATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLUG;